(Editor’s note: Meet one of the six finalists of the Press Play Songwriter Contest. All six will perform Sept. 16 on the global stage of Arts in the Heart of Augusta)
Music and songwriting have come naturally to Bryan Hatch.
“I’ve been writing songs since I was 4 years old — not necessarily good songs, but songs. They are cathartic,” said Hatch, one of the six finalists in the inaugural Press Play songwriter competition. He will perform Sept. 16 on the global stage at Arts in the Heart of Augusta.
Hatch’s first instrument was a set of drums, but he learned to play them long before he ever possessed them. As a kid, he’d sit for hours and soak in the music. He trained his ear on the drumline and played along on the air drums.
“I got a beat-up set from my aunt’s attic,” he said. “We used duct tape to put it together.”
When he sat down at the drums, the rhythms immediately flowed — to the amazement of everyone in the room — everyone except for Hatch, that is. He’s already played them repeatedly in his head. He’d put the practice in, and they heard the end result.
As a teen, he played in bands and played for some Augusta Players’ productions. He also learned to play the guitar. After high school, he was part of a band that played the college circuit. The group had an agent — the same agent Hootie and the Blowfish had in the band’s early years — and booked tons of frat parties and other gigs.
In his 20s, life took over, and at some point, the songwriting ceased. It lay dormant for about 15 years before Hatch decided to start playing and singing again.
These days he’s got a unique sound with a trio called Rae’s Creek Revival with Hatch on guitar, Catherine Robertson on upright bass and Luke Teague on multiple instruments including banjo.
Hatch said the three of them play new grass and a little old blue grass too. They perform covers and write their own songs as well. And the group is working on an album.
Over his years of playing music, his style has evolved as has the way he approaches music in general.
“When you’re young, you feel the music more. It’s the pulsating music that you feel. Now — to me — it’s what the songs are saying,” he said.
And his songs say a lot in their catharsis for the soul. He said he’s now written so many that they all will never have the chance to be recorded, but that’s OK with Hatch
As for the sound, there are no pulsating driving rhythms with his new band.
When Rae’s Creek Revival plays, the sounds won’t be so loud that people can’t enjoy talking to the person next to them or that band members themselves need earplugs to protect their ears from the amplifiers.
“We absolutely enjoy ourselves, and people have responded well,” he said.
He enjoys looking into an audience and seeing people tap along or move with the music or simply hold a conversation.
The song Hatch entered into Press Play is a bluesy rock piece called “Deep Dark Hole.” The title refers to the “Great Blue Hole of Belize,” a marine sinkhole.
“I’ve been scuba diving there,” he said.
The song is a biographical piece about an 18th century Welsh pirate named Bartholomew Roberts also known as Black Bart.
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While he’s part of the Press Play contest, Hatch doesn’t feel like he’s regularly competing with other area musicians.
He appreciates their sounds too and wants to hear more of what other musicians are doing. He also hopes Augustans will rally around those in its music scene and take a listen at the local talent.
He even put a plug in for Will McCranie who plays with Bodega Cat and has recently released a new EP
“Will is a world class musician,” said Hatch. “And his music — I’m blown away. I love it. I know how hard it is to get music listened to.”
To learn more about Hatch, visit bryanhatchmusic.com
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
